If you’re looking for a modern and swanky beach hotel in the heart of Waikiki, then ‘Alohilani Resort is your best choice! The resort offers the perfect balance of urban glam and relaxation, with an on-site gym/spa, restaurants and bars to choose from, and gorgeous views.
My boyfriend and I did a staycation for two nights at the ‘Alohilani Resort to celebrate my birthday and it did not disappoint. The hospital I was working for as a temporary therapist at the time was mandating strict quarantines for traveling off-island. Thus, even though I only live a couple of miles away from the hotel in Honolulu, we went for a getaway and it felt like we were a world away from home.
Where is the ‘Alohilani Resort Located?
The ‘Alohilani Resort is located in the heart of Waikiki. The hotel entrance is on Lili’uokalani Avenue and it is directly across the street from the beach. It is a 5-10 minute walk from many hot spots in Waikiki, such as surfing lessons, beach rentals, the International Marketplace, and a variety of restaurants and shops.
Checking In
Checking into the ‘Alohilani Resort was a breeze. From the front desk, your room will be in one of two resort towers. Both towers are an easy walk from the check-in location. I appreciate not having to go through a maze to find my room and the layout of the ‘Alohilani has an intuitive floor plan that is easy to navigate.
As you walk through the lobby, don’t miss the stunning two-story aquarium!
After we checked in, we received an immediate text message from the concierge desk to ask if we needed anything. This text line was available for the length of our hotel stay and they checked on us a couple of times. They responded quickly to texts and we used the concierge texting service to order a few items to our room during the stay.
The Rooms
The rooms were very clean and modern. A complete resort renovation was completed in 2018 to convert a previous hotel to the now ‘Alohilani. The rooms came with a super comfy bed, empty mini-fridge (great for storing extra bottles of cold water), safe, Keurig coffee maker with plenty of coffee pods, and my favorite feature: a heated bidet!
We selected to stay in a partial ocean view king room. This was the view from our lanai.
The Pool
Imagine a relaxing soak on the edge of Waikiki looking into the ocean. The infinity pool at the ‘Alohilani is as photo-friendly as it is blissful. It is accompanied by a hot tub, which has an equally good view. The pool is family-friendly and there was a mixture of families and couples at the pool.
Chairs by the pool are primarily first-come, first-served. There are some reserved chairs right next to the pool, but in general, you can grab open chairs in the morning.
You can also rent a cabana for the day. While the cabanas do not have direct pool access, they are a nice private oasis on the pool deck.
While you’re by the pool or in a cabana, you can grab some food or a drink at the Swell Bar.
The Longboard Club at the ‘Alohilani
The Longboard Club is the special club access at the ‘Alohilani. You can get access the Longboard Club by booking a room with club access or you can purchase passes individually if they are available. We booked our room with Longboard Club access and it completely elevated our stay and made it much more enjoyable.
Access to the Longboard Club includes a daily breakfast buffet and a nightly wine/beer and small menu which includes a soup, salad, and appetizer tray. The wine selection was top-notch and I enjoyed their choices.
We estimated that the Longboard Club access added approximately $50 per person, per night to our hotel stay. We absolutely got more value than $50 per person, per day out of our club access. If you eat breakfast and get two glasses of their fabulous wine selection with some appetizers, you can get your value out of the additional cost.
In Conclusion:
I had a great stay at the ‘Alohilani Resort. The rooms were spacious with modern amenities. I enjoyed lounging by the pool with the oceanfront views. The location makes it easy to walk to anything in Waikiki and you have easy access to the beach. This is an excellent choice for families, couples, and solo travelers.
If you want some tips on what to do in Waikiki and O’ahu, check out these blogs!
Top 10 Things to do in Waikiki Beach
The Best Things to do On O’ahu
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